Wasn't he supposed to be beaten to death? Why did this powerful cousin love him so much?

Zhuangzi chuckled, but no longer answered Xie Jue's question. Instead, he smiled and turned to leave.

After just a few steps, the person disappeared from sight.

Jiang Sese kept watching the direction Zhuang Sheng left in until Xie Jue gently squeezed her hand, which brought her back to her senses.

Jiang Sese had been silent until now, but she spoke softly.

"This Zhuang Sheng always seems a bit strange to me."

Xie Jue turned his head to look at her: "What's strange about it?"

Jiang Sese frowned, carefully recalling the scenes they had just spent together. The vague doubts in her heart became clearer, yet she couldn't grasp any concrete evidence.

She couldn't voice her suspicions directly, so she had to carefully choose her words.

"I can't quite put my finger on the reason. But even though he addressed us as 'distinguished guests,' didn't you think he seemed too relaxed?"

"Ordinary people or even itinerant sorcerers would inevitably be reserved and timid when facing a nobleman of unknown identity, and would be quite cautious in their greetings and responses. But he stood before us without any intention of looking up to us."

Jiang Sese looked up at Xie Jue, her tone somewhat uncertain: "However, perhaps I'm overthinking it."

This era had a clear hierarchy, but this person felt strangely familiar to Jiang Sese.

Xie Jue listened quietly, his gaze deepening slightly: "This person has a keen insight into people's hearts and a vision far surpassing that of ordinary martial arts practitioners; he is indeed extraordinary. However, we are merely acquaintances, so there is no need to deliberately probe his background."

Jiang Sese nodded.

On the way back, Jiang Sese slowly said, "I want to set up a Qingyufang in Yangzhou. The pharmacies in the capital are now on the right track, and the orders from the military are stable. However, the supply of penicillin in Jiangnan is ultimately inconvenient to rely solely on transporting it from the capital to the south."

Xie Jue: "Jiangnan is a prosperous region, and Yangzhou is home to many salt merchants and high-ranking officials. There are plenty of people willing to spend a fortune for life-saving medicine."

Jiang Sese proposed her idea: "Penicillin will not be provided for common minor illnesses. It will only be provided at a fixed price for severe inflammation, difficult labor infections, and serious injuries. Poor people can get a discount based on the certificate issued by the head of the local security bureau, while wealthy households and salt merchants will be charged the market price."

Xie Jue listened and pondered for a moment.

"The idea is good, but there are a few things to consider. First, the wording regarding the high price for wealthy households needs to be changed. We can't call it a high price; we should call it a donation based on one's own whims. When wealthy households take out their money, they say it's for accumulating good deeds. If you clearly set a price, they'll feel like you're taking advantage of them. It would be better to set up a merit wall in Qingyufang, where the names of all those who donate money can be engraved, but the amount can remain unengaged. The more ambiguous it is, the more they'll donate."

Jiang Sese paused, then added earnestly, "Also, I'd like to hire female workers. Women are more meticulous and attentive, and besides needlework and laundry, there are very few jobs in this world that can provide a livelihood for women. Qingyufang needs meticulousness and patience, which female workers are more suitable for than male workers. What do you think?"

If she didn't have the ability before, that would be one thing, but now she has both money and power.

Having finally managed to time-travel once, she couldn't change the grand world like her predecessors, nor did she have the ability to change this era of male supremacy and female inferiority.

But saving individual people is still worth a try.

Here, she had seen too many women whose hands and feet were bound by the times. Chen Shixuan gave her maidservant to Wen Shiyu as a concubine, not out of generosity, but because she was afraid that other women would take advantage of the situation, and that she would lose even the last bit of initiative.

When Fei Rao of Tianxiang Tower was dying, the madam couldn't bear to spend money to hire a doctor. And Xie Yujiao almost became a discarded wife with a single slap. If Xie Jue hadn't protected her behind the scenes, her fate wouldn't have been much better than Xie Yihua's.

Xie Jue glanced at Jiang Sese calmly, remained silent for a few moments, and then said in a low voice, "Women are indeed good at being thoughtful, but they are physically weak. They may find it inconvenient to do strenuous tasks such as moving medicinal herbs, guarding the storeroom, and dealing with troublemakers in the workshop."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Sese knew that he wasn't against it, but rather was considering the practicalities of its implementation for her.

Jiang Sese had already considered this, so she answered calmly, "I have thought about it. For heavy lifting like moving heavy objects and keeping watch at night, I plan to have Fuyun help out and find a few women who know martial arts to take care of it. We won't need any male workers."

Xie Jue finally turned his face towards her and asked, "When did you discuss this with Fuyun?"

Jiang Sese: "It was this morning when I was getting dressed..."

Jiang Sese only realized what she had said after she had already spoken.

But it was too late.

Xie Jue slowly said, "So, you discussed it with Fuyun before coming to tell me?"

Jiang Sese quickly moved closer to him, grabbed his arm and shook it, saying, "No, no, I just wanted to ask her if she wanted to stay in Yangzhou."

Xie Jue looked down at her expectant expression, a slight, almost imperceptible curve appearing at the corner of his lips, but his tone remained indifferent: "I think you acted first and informed me later, arranging everything before notifying me."

Jiang Sese quickly said, "You're really wronging me. If I were here to inform you, why would I ask if it's feasible?"

Looking at Jiang Sese's sincere expression, Xie Jue finally chuckled softly, reached out and put his arm around her, "I understand."

Jiang Sese nodded repeatedly and leaned closer to his shoulder.

Xie Jue said, "However, if we want to set up a branch office in Yangzhou, we need a trustworthy person to be stationed there permanently."

Jiang Sese already had someone in mind: "I want to keep Fuyun here. Fuyun was a member of the Qianlin Guard before. He is highly skilled in martial arts and is more than capable of protecting the pharmacy and the formulas."

Xie Jue squinted, thought for a moment, and said, "The person is suitable, but if Fuyun stays in Yangzhou, she can't be with you all the time. Are you willing to let her go?"

This world is not fair to men and women. Fuyun was chosen from among thousands to become a member of the Qianlin Guard.

A good background, talent, character, loyalty, and intelligence are all indispensable.

Jiang Sese nodded and said, "I will definitely come here often in the future since Qingyufang is here, and Fuyun herself also wants to do something practical."

Having mastered both literary and martial arts, they were to serve the emperor.

When Jiang Sese first learned that Fuyun was the only Qianlin Guard in the book with a name, she was shocked. There were so many Qianlin Guards in the book, but none of them had names; only Fuyun did.

This shows Fuyun's abilities.

Keeping him by her side would be a waste of his talents.

Seeing that Jiang Sese was willing to release the person, Xie Jue remained silent. He had given Fuyun to her, so she could make the decision.

Now that this matter has been decided, besides having fun, Jiang Sese will also need to find time to choose and look at locations.

The Jiang family had been rooted in Yangzhou for many years, with a stable clan influence and extensive local knowledge. Upon hearing the news that Jiang Sese wanted to open a pharmacy in the area, the Jiang family immediately started thinking about it.

Just two days later, Jiang Mao personally visited and offered a spacious courtyard shop facing the street.

This courtyard is in an excellent location, situated on a quiet thoroughfare in the heart of Yangzhou. It is open and airy with easy access to the street, making it convenient for both ordinary people and wealthy households. It also features a deep inner courtyard that separates the inner and outer areas, making it a prime location.

Jiang Sese asked Fuyun to go and see.

After looking around, Fuyun said frankly that it was indeed a good place.

Jiang Sese ignored the Jiang family and looked at a few more places, but none were as good as the one the Jiang family had offered. Clearly, the Jiang family was also willing to risk everything, and had sent over their best shop.

Jiang Sese thought for a moment and proposed to settle the shop's silver at the highest market price, so as to ensure a fair transaction and that neither party would owe the other anything.

She owes the Jiang family nothing, nor does she want to take advantage of them.

But Jiang Mao waved his hand repeatedly upon hearing this, insisting on not taking a single penny.

Jiang Mao said, "Your Highness's benevolence and kindness to Jiangnan are an honor for the Jiang family. How dare a mere shop accept money? However, I have a request that Your Highness grant."